Draft-equalizer.



J. VAN IVIAI'RE,I

DRAFT EQUALIZBR.

APPLICATION FILED APRA, 190s. BENBWED Nov. 9, 1909,

960,126., Patented Maysl, 1910.

ANDREW E. GHANAM co.. Pnofuwocmwins wAsmNmoN, n. c.

UNTTED STATES PATENT CEFTCE.

JENNINGS VAN MATRE, OF PASO ROBLES, CALIFORNIA.

DRAFT-EQUALIZER.

Application filed April 4, 1908, Serial No. 425,223.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, J ENNiNGs VAN MATRE, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Paso Robles, in the county of San Luis Obispoand State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements inDraft-Equalizers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements iu draft equalizers, and itconsists in the construction, combination and arrangement of partshereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, wherein-the figure is a plan view of adraft-equalizer constructed in accordance with my invention.

Referring to the drawing byreference characters, A designates theoutermost, B and C the intermediate, and D the innermost set of draftdevices of my improved equalizer. Each of the sets of draft devices B, Cand D comprises a pair oflevers 2 which are connected together by meansof an evener 3. Chains 4 are connected at their ends to the ends of theeveners 3 and to eye bolts 4a carried by the levers 2. A tree 5 issecured to the outer end of each lever 2 by means of a ring 6 andclevises 7 and 8. The levers 2 are provided with a plurality oflongitudinally extending perforations 9 which permit the clevises 7 tobe adjusted at different points in the length thereof. A swingletree 10is secured to the inner end of the tree 5 by means of a chain 11 orother flexible member. A doubletree 12 is secured to the outer end ofthe tree 5 by means of clevises 13 and a ring 14. Swingletrees 15 aresecured to the ends of the doubletree 12 by means of clevises 1G andrings 17. The levers 2 are secured in relatively spaced relation bymeans of a bar 18. The ends of the bar 18 are reduced for entry throughrings 19 carried by clevises 20. The clevises 2O of the innermost set ofdraft devices D are secured to the levers 2 for adjustment to differentpoints in their lengths through the medium of plates 21, the platesbeing provided with perforated flanges 22 for this purpose, and aresecured to the levers through the medium of screws 23. The re-Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1910.

Renewed November 9, 1909. Serial No. 527,072.

duced ends of the bar 18 are retained Within the rings 19 by means ofpins 24 which are let through the ends of the bars, as fully disclosedin the drawing.

As the levers 2 are connected together by means of the evener 3, thedraft is distributed equally to the animals connected to each lever, andas the clevises 2O may be adjusted to different points in the length ofthe levers 2, the levers may be relatively adjusted to permit thereduction of the number of animals attached to each lever.

Each set of draft devices is provided with aring 25 which is secured tothe rings 19 by means of links 26. The draft-equalizer is adapted to besecured in applied position through the medium of the ring 25 in the setof draft devices D. The sets of draft devices are adapted to be securedtogether through the medium of chains 27 which are connected to therings 25 and to the eveners 3. As one set of the draft devices'isconnected to the evener of the next adjacent set, it should be apparentthat the draft is equally distributed. The outermost set of draftdevices consists of a doubletree 28 and swingletrees 29, thesvvingletrees being connected to the ends of the doubletree by means ofclevises 30 and rings 31. The draft bar 32 of the vehicle to which thedraft equalizer is secured is provided with a grooved roller 33 overwhich the draft chain 27, which connects the innermost and the nextadjacent draft sets, passes. The roller is carried by a bracket 34 whichis secured to the draft bar by means of bolts 35.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, the construction and mode of operation of the invention shouldbe understood without a further extended description. Changes in theform, proportions and minor details of construction may be made withinthe scope of the claim Without departing from the spirit or sacrificingany of the advantages of the invention.

Having fully described and illustrated my invention, what l claim is:

A draft equalizer comprising a pair of levers, an evener, eye boltssecured to the by the links, and swingletrees connected to the outerends of the levers.

ln testimony whereof l affix iny signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JENNJGS VN MATER. lllitnesses HENRY VAN MATRE, En limsi'.

inner ends of the levers, chains connected to tlie eye bolts and to theends of the evener, plates secured to the levers, elevises adjustablysecured to the Qlates io perinit Jdie levers to be relatively adjusted,rings carried by tlie clevises, a lever spacing bar having its endsremovably disposed in the rings, links connected to the rings, a ringcarrie-d

